Club Member or Kingdom Builder
Becoming More: Being the Church we're Called to be • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Communion:
Sermon series: Becoming More: Being the Church we’re Called to be.
"What if the church you experience isn't the church God intended? Many of us approach our faith like a club membership, consuming services and seeking comfort, rather than engaging as active participants in God's grand mission.
This four-week series, 'Becoming More,' challenges us to move beyond mere attendance and passive observation. We'll explore how to transform from club members into kingdom builders, critics into encouragers, consumers into contributors, and attenders into committed disciples. Prepare to rediscover what it truly means to be the Church God has called you to be – a dynamic, outward-focused community making an eternal difference."
Club Membership vs. Kingdom Builder
The Comfort Trap: We've Conflated Consumerism with Christ-Following.(combine two or more ideas into one)
(Directly challenges comfort and self-interest)
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
The closest contemporary word to “disciple” is probably “apprentice.”
A disciple is more than a student who learns lessons by means of lectures and books. He is one who learns by living and working with his teacher in a daily “hands on” experience.
Too many Christians are content to be listeners who gain a lot of knowledge but who have never put that knowledge into practice.
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Unlearn my ways, my desires and learn Jesus’.
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Die to self and our ways daily. Not my will but thy will!
What does that look like? I pray Jesus make me more like you today.
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
I teach new Christ followers to learn Jesus. The do as Jesus did.
(Highlights seeking what feels good rather than what is true and challenging)
3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
To quote an old rule of preachers, “He should afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.”
Calling out unbiblical ways. Will you let me pastor you? Will you pastor me?
2. "The Church Isn't a Holy Huddle; It's a Sent-Out Force."
The Big Idea: Club member keeps to themselves and stay inward focused.
Kingdom builder is outward focused and is sent out on mission.
(A direct commissioning statement, emphasizing being sent)
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
(Highlights being empowered for outward mission, starting locally and extending globally)
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Illustration: "Imagine you're part of an special forces elite team, trained for a critical mission. Do you spend all your time in the briefing room, admiring the equipment, talking about how great the training was, and just enjoying each other's company?
Or do you get out there and execute the mission?
See, too often, we treat church like it's just a holy huddle – a place where we gather with like-minded people, feel safe, sing some songs, maybe share a coffee, and feel good about our spiritual lives.
And yes, community is vital! But Jesus didn't save us to keep us cooped up in a spiritual safe space. He saved us to send us out!
He gave us the Holy Spirit not only for personal comfort, but for power to be His witnesses!
The church isn't meant to be a comfy gathering of friends; it's meant to be a deployed force, engaging the world, bringing the light of Christ into the darkest places. Are we just huddling, or are we being sent?"
3. "Your Gifts Aren't Just for You; They're for the Kingdom."
The Big Idea: Club members hoard their talents, time, and resources, using them primarily for personal gain or self-preservation.
Kingdom builders see their abilities as divinely given tools to be deployed for the common good and the advancement of God's purposes.
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
(Explicitly states gifts are for serving others and bringing glory to God)
(Parable of the Talents): (Illustrates the expectation that we are to invest and multiply what God has given us, not bury it out of fear or self-interest.)
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ 23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Illustration: "Imagine you're given a massive inheritance. Like, a really massive one. And your only job is to invest it wisely, to grow it, to use it to benefit others, knowing the one who gave it to you is coming back to see what you did with it. Would you just bury it in the backyard? Would you spend it all on yourself? That's what so many of us do with our God-given gifts – our time, our energy, our intelligence, our creativity, our money. We treat them like they're ours to do with as we please, for our kingdom.
But God has entrusted us with these resources for His Kingdom!
Stop burying your talents; start building with them!"
4. "The Mission Isn't to Get to Heaven; It's to Bring Heaven to Earth."
The Big Idea: Club members often have a narrow view of salvation – a ticket to heaven, an escape from hell.
Kingdom builders recognize that salvation is not just a destination but a commission: to live out and embody the reality of God's reign now, making a tangible difference in the world.
(A direct prayer for God's kingdom to manifest here and now)
10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Illustration: Contrast two different mindsets about purpose:
"If your entire spiritual goal is just to 'get saved' and punch your ticket to heaven, you're missing the point of Jesus' entire ministry!
That's a club mentality – 'I'm in, I'm safe, now let me wait it out.' But Jesus didn't just die to get you out of earth and into heaven. He died to bring heaven to earth, through you!
He didn't just give you eternal life; He gave you a mission for this life! Are we sitting around, twiddling our thumbs, waiting for the rapture, while our neighborhoods, our cities, our schools, our workplaces are aching for the touch of God's kingdom?
Kingdom builders aren't just looking forward to heaven; they're working hard to make earth look more like heaven right now, wherever God has placed them. It’s not just about your personal afterlife; it’s about participating in God’s present and future reign!"
